Final Fantasy XI - PC - Preview

E3 2003 - Hands
On

The Final Fantasy
series comes online with Final Fantasy XI, the first massively multiplayer
online-RPG for both Final Fantasy and for Square-Enix. You create a customized
character from one of five different races, select a job class, and then make
your way through the enormous world of Vana’diel. Being a massively multiplayer
online game, Final Fantasy XI makes interaction between you and other players in
the universe integral to the game, so you’ll need to form friendships in order
to get a full party.

Taking a franchise
like Final Fantasy into an MMORPG universe is quite a bold move, and many may
already be turned off to the idea. However, Final Fantasy XI stays extremely
faithful to the well-established Final Fantasy universe. Many little nuances
present in nearly every Final Fantasy game make a showing in this title, like
chocobos, mages, certain enemies etc. The game makes great use of the job
system, making it so you can customize your character and change his or her
selected profession on the fly. The music and artwork are on par with the
series and, although the game has been out in Japan for a year, the graphics
look fantastic. The lighting effects look excellent and little details like
your character’s tail (should he have one) wagging as you stand there look
great. As an added bonus, all forms of Final Fantasy XI are connected online,
meaning PC gamers will be able to play with PS2 gamers and Japanese gamers will
be able to play with American gamers.

Final Fantasy XI
hits on the PC this winter and the PS2 launched date has yet to be determined.